Solomzi Thandubuntu Phenduka was born in Johannesburg18 February 1987. He has been a music producer since the age of 16. He started his music journey as a rapper, but after realising he wasn't happy as a teenager rapping under the name Savage in Vosloorus, his single mother got him a computer and he began making hip hop beats, later he switched over to house beats. He attended St Francis College in Benoni, matriculating in 2006. He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Johannesburg in 2011.
Radio
Sol joined Yfm as an intern through the Y academy internship program and after the 6-month program joined the newly formed "Flava In Da Mornin" breakfast show as a cohost to Mo flava in 2010. Sol Phenduka remained on the YFM breakfast show for four years till February 2014. Upon his return from Big Brother Mzansi 3, Sol Phenduka left YFM and joined 5FM on its new breakfast show "Fresh at 5" with DJ Fresh. Sol Phenduka was suspended by 5FM for 3 days in January 2015 leading to the cancelation of the show "Fresh or Vrot", following inappropriate comments in the air nationwide of a 16-year-old axe attack victim survivor of the van Breda family, who were hacked to death in Stellenbosch. Sol took to Twitter to apologise for his comments, saying it wasn't “the intention to offend” when he said on air that she is “gorgeous” and he would “like to axe her out,” but that he "woundt make her an X ". in October 2016, after 3 years at 5fm on the breakfast show and going on to getting his own show due to his growing popularity with listeners, Sol Phenduka resigned from 5FM with immediate to focus on other projects and his personal life.
Music
He released his first single Mount Zion 2010, which was on his eponymous debut album released in 2012. He released his third single Uhuru in 2011, the song that put him on the SouthAfrican map. The song featured on various radio charts across South Africa.
Sol Phenduka released his 12 track debut album with Native Rhythms, the album featured several Vocalists, notably Camagwini, Sol Phenduka's then stable mate at Native Rhythms. The Album included Sol Phenduka's most successful works- Uhuru and Isolomzi.
Big Brother Mzansi
On 2 February 2014, the third season of Big Brother Mzansi 3 premiered. Sol Phenduka was one of the 18 contestants. Sol Phenduka's charisma and charm won him the hearts of enough viewers to see him survive all evictions up until the last week of the show where he was one of the 6 finalist to remain in the house. However his best friend in the house Mandla won the grand prize of R1 Million. Sol Phenduka was voted by the viewers as the season's best HoH.
